It’s now just 5 weeks until the Molteno Hall in the picturesque Perthshire village of Fortingall will be opening its doors for an annual art exhibition that attracts visitors from both the local community and across Scotland, and beyond.

…. in the words of our esteemed Chairman, artist Eric Timms …

“Glen Lyon is said to be the longest and loneliest Glen in Scotland. True. But it is also the most creative Glen in the entire country. If you doubt this ambitious statement then come to our exhibition and make up your own mind. 35 top local artists will proudly be displaying new, fresh and exciting work that always surprises those that see the work.

Photography, oil paintings, water colours, fused glass, sculptures, contemporary furniture are just a few of the mediums on display. Jewellery that will bring the romantic out in you. Ceramics to contemplate. Contemporary ideas that will confuse and delight. Meet the artists who spend their time trying to make this world a better place to live in. They too will confuse and delight you.

Hop onto our website on www.fortingallart.co.uk and follow the artists who will be exhibiting by travelling around their websites and blogs. All the information you need to find us, and more, is there.

As Picasso said. “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life”.

See you there dusty folk.

Eric Timms. Chairman.”

Fortingall Art Summer exhibition starts on Saturday 21st July and will be open every day until Sunday 5th August – admission free.

The original article, and more images can be seen on their website here

I have finally got the opportunity to participate in a summer event, having been so closely tied to seasonal work for the last 25 years… I have broken free, no longer at the beck and call of the tourist season, and am going to attend my first summer selling event.

This one is organised by Perthshire Creates, and takes place in the lovely Civic Hall at the Tay River end of the High Street, which was refurbished a couple of years ago. It has lots of light and space, which makes for a great venue for a craft and design fair. Many of the In the Garden with Friends exhibitors are participating in this fair, given that so many of my creative friends are actually located in Perthshire!

In the run up to the event, some of us have provided count-down images. Here is todays one made by Bradley Napier Design. My offering is at 4 days to go and features my Mavis sculpture, so if you want to see that, head over to the Perthshire Creates Event on Facebook Page

I will be focussing on my decorative slates which are suitable for outdoors – so think flowers, birds and fish, working my way through a pile of slates that have recently moved house with me, and also a stash of bone china plates (I have been working on a large project which has used the flat centres of dinner plates, leaving me with lots of edging, too good to throw away)

At the Christmas Design Fair 2017

A Selection of Decorative Slates

Other artists from the In the Garden with Friends crew who will be there are:

living rurally in the Highlands certainly has a romantic appeal, hiding away in the land of all those celtic legends, fascinating wildlife on the doorstep (literally at times) and never sure what the weather will be doing with wind sun and rain all in one day. on the flip side we have the challenges of […]

This poem, by my good friend Patricia Ace, really sums up 2017 Christmas for me. There is so much c**p going on in the world at the moment, yet so many good people (unsung heroes) beavering away in their neck of the woods to make their communities better. There are so many people who are out there for themselves, filling their lives up with stuff, rather than seeking friendships and life changing experiences. It has to change at some point in time, where politically and socially we regain compassion for others, not just our own little bubble… I still blame Margaret Thatcher and legacy that has gone on for more than a generation now!

On Saturday we hosted a ‘bring a dish’ supper with our closest friends from Crieff; Patricia & Fin, Annette & Martin, Beverley & Allan, Jacqui & Noel (Anna & Neil couldn’t make it), and it was lovely to spend a fun evening with people that for whatever reason are important so to you. Next Saturday, we will be “doing lunch” with a group of friends who were at college with my husband, they have remained a close knit group for the last 30 years. Again, it will be special.

And then for Christmas, gifting is complicated. I have expressed a desire for no more stuff, just inexpensive consumables that are wee treats (I do like a good soap [or holiday]). We do have children, albeit that they are now in their 20s, and it is nice to give them something… and as for my husband… I have bought myself a place on a mosaic course down in London next year ~ from him!

But my main gift over Christmas is to volunteer on Christmas Day with Crisis at Christmas in Edinburgh for the first time ever. At the induction day, I was suprised that there were so many serial volunteers, who have done it every year, coming back for more. It must be well rewarding! I will be playing games, talking, chatting, hopefully getting to drum or dance with the samba band who will be there, and then crash all exhausted, but satified, at 8pm or so at the comfortable home with family…

I am also seeking sponsorship which will be used for their year ’round work to end homelessness… now there is a wish to light a candle to!

I have the joys of participating in the Dunning Christmas Fair, on Sunday 26th November, so only a couple of weeks away now… so my workshop is chaotic, with half-done flowers on slates in anticipation.

Now in it’s 19th year, this display of hand-made work by a curated selection of local artists is one to behold! the quality of the work improves year on year, with the mix of artists changing a bit each time. Many of the artists were part of the In the Garden with Friends exhibition, and indeed, there were some that became friends due to participating in the previous Dunning fairs.

Jug by John Maguire

Jingle Bells by Anna Olson

Wonky House by Gail Robertson

Silver Necklace by Diana King

Lamps by Caron Ironside

Flying Fish By Lorna Radbourne

Cactus Ring Holders made by Ceri White

Miniature Diorama Picture by Cal Scott of Sad Panda Printing

Meconopsis by Jo Cound

Horseshoe by Fiona Gordon

Clock by Allan Craig

Burry Elm Mirror by Andy Claydon

The fair will be open 11.30 until 4pm, Sunday 26th November 2017

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